Accountant salary in Harrisonburg, VA
Hiring an accountant costs less in Harrisonburg than in Virginia or the country as a whole. The median is $76,530 a year1: 18.0% below the Virginia statewide median of $93,290 and 8.5% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #262 of 521. BLS counts about 450 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Harrisonburg, VA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Harrisonburg against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | $49,890 | $76,530 | $122,030 | |
| Virginia | $60,000 | $93,290 | $156,730 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Harrisonburg earns $60,560–$95,710. The top tenth earns $122,030 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,150 wide, against $49,260 across Virginia and $42,790 nationally: employers in Harrisonburg pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,890 | $4,158 | $23.99 | $64,374 |
| 25th percentile | $60,560 | $5,047 | $29.12 | $78,142 |
| Median | $76,530 | $6,378 | $36.79 | $98,748 |
| 75th percentile | $95,710 | $7,976 | $46.01 | $123,497 |
| 90th percentile | $122,030 | $10,169 | $58.67 | $157,458 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,970 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $19,180, or about $24,748 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Harrisonburg, and the Virginia statewide median of $93,290 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Harrisonburg
At the $76,530 median, a local hire costs about $98,748 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,218 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Harrisonburg
Of the 16 roles we track in Harrisonburg, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($84,680); office managers come next at $68,800.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +10.6% | 330 | |
| Accountant | this role | 450 | |
| Office Manager | -10.1% | 540 | |
| Recruiter | -18.6% | 240 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -19.1% | 290 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #8 of the 16 roles we track in Harrisonburg (-8.5%), between bookkeepers (-7.1%) and customer support specialists (-12.7%). The typical role here is at -10.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 9.2% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Harrisonburg, 11.1% across Virginia and 9.2% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 13 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $74,800 in Blacksburg-Christiansburg to $84,220 in Richmond, a gap of $9,420 a year. Of the 9 areas in Virginia with more accountants than Harrisonburg, 2 pay less: the Southside Virginia nonmetro area ($75,900) and Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA ($74,800).
| Area | Median | vs Harrisonburg | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA-WV | +1.5% | 590 | |
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 600 | |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | +1.0% | 320 | |
| Roanoke, VA | +0.9% | 1,200 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | this area | 450 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | -0.8% | 620 | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -2.3% | 490 |
Harrisonburg against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Harrisonburg is #380 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Virginia, Bloomington and Mankato pay just above Harrisonburg and Bloomington and Harrisburg-Carlisle just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Harrisonburg. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Harrisonburg | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, MI | +19.9% | 450 | jobs | |
| Dalton, GA | +1.1% | 450 | jobs | |
| Mankato, MN | +0.2% | 400 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IN | +0.1% | 480 | pay | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | this area | 450 | ||
| Bloomington, IL | -0.0% | 750 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -0.0% | 3,210 | pay | |
| Dubuque, IA | -3.1% | 450 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Harrisonburg, VA?
About $98,748 a year at the median, or $8,229 a month: $76,530 in pay plus about $22,218 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Harrisonburg?
The median was $76,530 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,890, the 90th $122,030, and the middle half earned $60,560 to $95,710.
Is Harrisonburg cheaper than the rest of Virginia for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,530 against $93,290 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is Roanoke at $77,240, the next down the Southside Virginia nonmetro area at $75,900.
How many accountants work in Harrisonburg?
BLS counts about 450 in the May 2025 survey. 9 areas in Virginia have more; the closest in size is Blacksburg-Christiansburg, with about 490.
Does an accountant cost more than an office manager in Harrisonburg?
Yes: $7,730 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,530 and $68,800.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.